3 Myths About Physical Activity
Excuses, excuses, excuses…well, there’s really no excuse to not be moving and grooving throughout your day! Being physically active is SO BENEFICIAL FOR SO MANY REASONS! Please don’t use the excuses below to avoid doing something that can actually save your life!
1. It takes too much time: FALSE
Does this sound familiar to you? Often times we get busy in life and our health gets placed on the back burner. We say physical activity takes too much time. Start with achievable goals. Park your car a little further away from the door at the grocery store so you have to walk a little more. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Then build from there. Some movement is better than no movement! According to the World Health Organization, it only takes setting aside 30 minutes, 5 days per week to move your body at a moderate intensity to improve and maintain your health. The 30 minutes of physical activity does not have to be performed all at once. You can break it into smaller intervals (i.e. 20 minute walk, 10 minutes of yardwork, etc.).
2. Physical Activity requires a gym membership: FALSE
You don’t need to belong to a gym in order to be physically active. You don’t necessarily need equipment. Body weight is a form of resistance! You can be physically active at home, work, or outdoors. Movement can be involved in things you enjoy such as going for a walk with a friend, gardening, or doing yardwork. You can utilize paved sidewalks, park benches, stairways, or hills! If you want to try to exercise at home, there are a lot of great (and quick) workouts on Youtube or on apps on your smart phone!
3. I can’t be physically active because I’m old: FALSE
Movement is medicine! There are several benefits that physical activity can offer beside improvements in physical health. Mental health, cognitive function, stress levels, pain, and joint health can all be positively impacted by physical activity. AND, it’s never too late to start being more active! Several quality research studies (see just a few of them below) have demonstrated that physical activity can decrease the likelihood of co-morbidities (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, etc.). Being active also offers older individuals opportunities to meet new people, maintain social networks, and interact with others their age. Physical activity can be enjoyed at all ages of life!
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32083390
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19454641
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28659501
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12137611
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19495557
Are you looking for more ways to stay active and healthy, call Omaha Physical Therapy Institute today! We have several programs that encourage continued commitment to health and wellness in a FUN and FRIENDLY environment!
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